Bill To Ban LNG Stations Off NJ Coast Clears Committee

TRENTON – Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senators Sean Kean and Bob Gordon that would ban the construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) transfer stations off the coast of New Jersey cleared the Senate Environment and Energy Committee last week.

“It is vital that we take steps today to protect New Jersey’s largest industry, tourism, from the type of environmental disaster that took place this summer in the Gulf of Mexico,” Kean (R-Monmouth) began. “This bill merely continues our long-standing opposition to oil and natural gas exploration off the coast of this state. Furthermore, there is an abundance of natural gas available in the United State and we should develop those resources before we ship any more money overseas.”

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“Whether we’re talking about the massive environmental damage caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf earlier this summer or the property damage caused by the San Bruno, California natural gas pipeline explosion [earlier this month], New Jersey simply cannot afford a mistake with these facilities,” said Gordon (D-Bergen.) “When you add in New Jersey’s ecological diversity off the coast, and the importance of our shore region to the State’s tourism economy, it becomes even clearer. We cannot put New Jersey lives, property, tourism and environmental quality at risk for the low-yield benefit of LNG facilities in our coastal waters.”

This resolution opposes the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities off the New Jersey coast. Additionally, the resolution further expresses support for increased energy efficiency and energy conservation and the promotion of renewable energy technologies and projects.

The New Jersey/New York Clean Ocean Zone is defined as the waters from Montauk Point, New York, to Cape May, New Jersey, extending offshore 100 miles to the outer edge of the Continental Shelf, and consists of over 19,000 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean.